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News: A 16-year study found a sharp rise in plastic ingestion by fledgling sable shearwaters on Lord Howe Island between 2010 and 2026.
About Lord Howe Island
- Lord Howe Island is a volcanic, crescent-shaped island and part of the Lord Howe Island Group.
- Location: It lies in the Tasman Sea, about 650 km off Australia’s east coast.
- Origin: The island is volcanic in origin and developed from submarine volcanic activity.
- Discovered by: The island was named after Admiral Lord Howe by Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, who discovered it in 1788.
- Geographical Features
- Two Peaks: The island has two major peaks – Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird, both rising above 760 m.
- Coral Reef: It has the world’s most southerly true coral reef.
- Biodiversity: The island has rare vegetation and diverse endemic fauna, including the Lord Howe Woodhen and Lord Howe Island Phasmid.
- The islands provide important breeding grounds for large colonies of seabirds, including Providence Petrels and Red-tailed Tropicbirds.
- Recognition: The Lord Howe Island Group was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982.
- Major Threats: Plastic pollution is a growing threat to the island’s seabirds, with a sharp rise in plastic ingestion by fledgling sable shearwaters.
About Tasman Sea
- Tasman Sea is a large section of the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
- Location: It lies between the southeastern coast of Australia and Tasmania and New Zealand.
- Boundaries: It merges with the Coral Sea to the north, while Bass Strait and Cook Strait connect it towards the Indian and Pacific oceans.
- Naming: It was named after Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, who navigated it in 1642.
- Nickname: The Tasman Sea is informally called “The Ditch” by Australians and New Zealanders.
- Climate: The southern part is generally temperate, while the northern part is subtropical.
- It lies in the belt of westerly winds known as the “roaring forties.”
- Key Features of Tasman Sea
- Size: It covers about 2.3 million sq. km.
- Depth: Its maximum depth exceeds 5,200 metres.
- Ocean currents: The sea is influenced by the East Australian Current and colder southern waters.
- Economic resources: Its resources include fisheries and petroleum deposits.
- Shipping: It contains important shipping lanes between New Zealand, southeastern Australia and Tasmania.
